Tillage implement

ABSTRACT

A special tool is designed to trail behind a conventional cultivator sweep or other soil loosening device in the middle of the furrow between rows of growing crops. The implement is hinged in a horizontal plane to the back of the sweep and is adjustable as to height and width. The implement clears the furrow of loose soil between the rows of the growing crops and shapes the furrow and pushes the dirt to the row to cover small weeds.

United States Patent 1 Young [451 Nov. 6, 1973 l TILLAGE IMPLEMENT [76]Inventor: "Arthur W. Young, 3305 45th St.,

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[22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 200,116

[52] U.S. Cl 172/194, 172/642, 172/701, 172/722, 172/744, 37/98 [51]Int. Cl A011) 5/00 [58] Field of Search 172/155, 159, 193-195, 172/642,701, 722, 728, 730, 744; 37/98 1 1 H85 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,146,337 2/1939 Hall et al. 172/159 2,690,113 9/1954Altgeltet al.. 172/720 2,783,560 3/1957 Brown 172/722 2,487,737 11/1949Skinner 172/194 2,469,044 5/1949 Lane 172/194 2,604,025 Rauen 172/7202,178,469 10/1939 Burke 172/193 1,580,405 4/1926 Brown 172/194 2,143,7811/1939 Krengel 172/194 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey AssistantExaminerEugene H. Eickholt Attorney-Charles W. Coffee [57] ABSTRACT Aspecial tool is designed to trail behind a conventional cultivator sweepor other soil loosening device in the middle of the furrow between rowsof growing crops. The implement is hinged in a horizontal plane to theback of the sweep and is adjustable as to height and width. Theimplement clears the furrow of loose soil between the rows of thegrowing crops and shapes the furrow and pushes the dirt to the row tocover small weeds.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDunv sma SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEU NOV"6 I975 SHEET 20F 2 TILLAGE IMPLEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to row-crop cultivatorshaving a soil loosening implement with a controlled, trailing adjustabledevice.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior workers in the art have previouslyknown of cultivators which had extending knives to cut weeds and theseknives being adjustable. Customarily, the adjustable knives, whichextend rearwardly and back, are preceded by a soil loosening implement.Examples of such developments are shown by the following U.S. Patents:

Perkins l86,6ll

Phillips et a1 1,800,152

Lane 2,469,044

Rauen 2,604,025

Also, prior workers in the field recognized there could be wings orblades extending rearwardly and backward from the loosening implement toshape the furrow. Examples of these developments are shown in WALTHALL,U.S. Pat. No. 1,717,952, and REMIL- LARD U.S. Pat. No. 1,799,642.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1. New and Different Function I have invented adevice which will conserve moisture by making it unnecessary to stir thesoil deeply as is normally done with conventional cultivation. Generallysoil will dry rapidly to the depth at which it is stirred during periodsbetween rainfall occurances. This loosened dry soil must then be wettedby the next rainfall or irrigation before water penetrates to the rootsof the crop plants.

Water erosion is a problem in certain areas. The soil is often washeddown the slope to the depth at which the soil was loosened by thepreceding tillage. Since the use of this sweep supplement permits moreshallow tillage of the soil, the device may become a means of conservingthe soil. Under wind erosion conditions, the soil may be blown away bywind to the depth to which tillage has loosened the soil. Here again,the use of a device according to this invention reduces the potentialwind erosion hazard by permitting shallow tillage to control the weedgrowth.

Plant root moisture losses are reduced by use of this device as iteliminates the operation of a sweep near the plant row. The sweep whichnormally runs near the plant row cuts plant roots, reducing the rootzone and ability of the plant to absorb water and nutrients. Also asweep which operates near the plant row often cuts off plants in the rowwhen the cultivator swerves to the right or left due to soilirregularities or inattention of the operator.

Thus, this device which will not cut off the plants or prune the rootsresults in maintaining a more desirable plant population and fastergrowing plants because pruning of the roots is eliminated.

My device allows shallow tillage, just deep enough to control the weeds.This means a minimum of soil manipulation after the crop is planted.

Weed control in the row is made possible by allowing the proper amountof soil to be pushed to the plant row to cover the small weeds which maybe growing there;

thus providing less expensive weed control in the row crops.

The use of a device according to this invention allows the operator toset the device to shape and clear a first class furrow for irrigationbetween the rows during the same operation in which cultivation isaccomplished.

Furthermore, the use of my invention requires only one cultivator sweepin each middle between rows, thus eliminating the necessity of usingthree or more sweeps between the rows as is now done with theconventional cultivator. This results in the reduction of from three ormore to one sweep, shank, and tool bar clamp per middle. This means asaving of more than the cost of the attachment device.

The reduction from three or more to one sweep being drawn through thesoil will require appreciably less power for operation since the powerrequirement for soil movement by the sweep attachment is considerablyless than for moving the additional sweeps through the soil.

The device according to my invention has both vertical and lateraladjustments so it can be easily and quickly set to move the desiredamount of loose soil to the rows to cover small weeds and to make thedesired shape of furrow for irrigation of the crop.

The device can be quickly adjusted to satisfactorily function forcultivation of crops in 40 inch rows or rows of less than 20 inches orrow spacings of any intermediate amount. This makes it possible toeffectively use this sweep attachment and furrow shaper in narrow rowcrops and to change to other row widths without delay.

Specifically, this sweep attachment materially conserves moisture andreduces the amount of soil which must be loosened and leaves a layer ofsoil mulch uniformly spread over the surface between the rows. Byloosening a smaller volume of soil, less moisture loss occurs from theair drying of the loosened soil. Furthermore, the layer of soil mulch onthe soil between the rows shades the underlying moist soil from the heatof the sun and also shields it from the wind movement at the soilsurface. The moisture loss due to evaporation is reduced.

The amount of loose soil pushed up to the plant row can be carefullyregulated to cover small weeds which may be in the plant row. The deviceis readily adjustable to accomplish the movement of the loose soil asmay be desired.

As a result, the soil loosening implement, which will customarily be asweep, may be adjusted to a shallower depth of cultivation. Still,sufficient soil will be loosened to provide the amount needed to reducethe surface soil and moisture losses between the rows and still havesufficient soil left to push aside to cover small weeds which may be inthe plant row.

2. Objects of this Invention An object of this invention is to till rowcrops.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy,compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, andreliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, operate, andmaintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses,and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the followingdescription and from the ac companying drawing, the different views ofwhich are not necessarily to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus disconnected from the shankand sweep.

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG.4.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawing, it may be seen there illustrated conventional sweep on thebottom of upright shank 12. The upright shank 12 is attached to a drawbar attached to a tractor; therefore, the draw bar forms a draft meansfor drawing the shank and the sweep along soil to be cultivated. Also,it will be recognized that the sweep 10 is a soil loosening implement.

Adapter plate 14 is bolted to the shank 12 by bolt 16. It may be seenthat the portion 18 of the adapter plate 14 which attaches to theupright shank l2 fits against the backside of the shank and has twoelongated holes or slots therethrough so it may be attached by the bolts16 to the shank. These slots or bolt holes would be approximately thesame spacing as the bolt holes through the sweep itself.

The normal shank has a 30 deviation from vertical at the point ofattachment of the sweep to the shank. The adapter plate has a horizontalportion; therefore, there will be an angle of 120 between the shankportion 18 and the horizontal portion 20. Attachment portion 22 extendsvertically upward from the horizontal. Therefore, it may be seen thatthe vertical portion is offset behind the shank portion so as to clearthe shank. The vertical portion has an elongated hole therethrough.

Attachment element or plate 24 is bolted to the vertical portion 22 ofthe adapter plate 14 by bolt 26. The attachment plate is illustrated asL-shaped and has horizontal leg 28 which is biforcated with two loops34. The shape of the attachment element or plate 24 may be modified forease and economy of manufacture. Specifically, it might be U-shaped invertical section.

Base plate 32 is horizontally oriented and its forward portion has-loopor barrel 30 axially aligned with the loops 34. The hinge bolt 36extends through the loops 34 and the barrel 30 so the base plate 32 ishinged to the attachment element 24. The attachment element 24 isconnected to the shank by virtue of the adapter plate 14. The verticallyoriented elongated slot in vertical portion 22 of the adapter plate 14and the elongated slot in the vertical leg 25 of the attachment plate 24form an elevating means on the attachment element for adjusting theheight .of the hinge relative to the shank l2.

The base plate 32 has two square holes; carriage bolts 38 are insertedtherethrough.

Wings 40 have attached at the forward edge thereofcam plates 42 whichhave apertures therethrough. The apertures fit over the bolts 38 andthereby the wings 40 are attached to the base plate 32. The cam plates42 have cam surfaces 46 upon them, which are illustrated curved, butwhich may be straight. The different points along the cam surfaces 46are different distances from the carriage bolts 38. Medial elongatedslot 48 is formed in the base plate. Bolt 50 extends through the slot 48and has bushing 52 around it. The bushing 52 bears against the camsurfaces 46. Therefore, the bolt 50 may be adjusted forward orrearwardly along the medial slot 48, thereby adjusting the wings 40inwardly or outwardly. The wings may be adjusted to any position byloosening the nuts upon the carriage bolts 38 and adjusting the bolt 50to a desired location and tightening all the various parts.

Chain loop 54 is attached to the most rear portion of the base plate 32.The loop 54 may be in the form of a hole through an elongation of theplate 32. Chain 56 extends upward from the loop 54 to a convenientattachment upon the top of the upright shank 12 or to the draw bar towhich it is attached. Therefore, as the shank 12 is raised to turn thetractor or cultivating implement, the wings 40 will also be raised.However, the chain 56 is adjusted so in a cultivating position, thechain is slack so the wings 40 drag or ride along the soil beingcultivated.

I have had good success forming the wings from 3/8 inch by 2 inch flatbar steel. I have had good success using inch length wings. The wingsare vertical, i.e., the 2 inches extends upward and the 3/8 inch issideways as illustrated. Stated otherwise, each wing is at least as highas it is thick. Another way of stating this would be to say that each ofthe wings extend vertically upward (height) for at least as great adistance as it is measured horizontally (thickness).

In the specific embodiment described above, these Wings 40 may beadjusted as to divergence from an apex or point behind the sweep 10 tothe width they are to cover. Also, the entire wing attachment can beraised or lowered so as to shape the furrow between the rows of growingcrops as desired. Furthermore, the tool can be turned upside down, i.e.,the hinge bolt 36 may be removed and the base plate 32 and the attachingparts turned upside down for a different cultivation and soil movementaccording to the needs of the soil and desires of the operator.

The barrel 30 and the hinge bolt 36 are basically aligned in ahorizontal plane with the base plate 32; thus reversing the base plate32 causes the wings 40 to be lower or higher.

The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do notclaim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described.Various modifications can be made in the construction, material,arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of myinvention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patentprotection are measured by and defined in the following claims. Therestrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do notpoint out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are toenable the reader to make and use the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tillage device having a. an upright shank b. a soil looseningimplement on the bottom of the shank,

0. draft means attached to the shank for drawing it along the soil to becultivated,

d. an attachment plate connected to the shank,

e. a base plate, and

f. a horizontal bolt hinging the base plate to the attachment plate;

g. the improved supplement comprising in combination: h. said attachmentis connected to said shank by elevating means for adjusting the heightof said bolt relative to the shank, 4 j. a pair of wings i. each ofwhich is made of a bar of material, each bar of material being orientedso it extends upward vertically at least as great a distance as it ismeasured horizontally, contd:

ii. said wings attached to the base plate to extend rearwardly andbackward from iii. a point immediately behind a soil looseningimplement,

k. so that the wings are free to float up and down about an axis definedby said bolt to fit the irregularities of the soil being cultivated,

m. said base plate is horizontally oriented,

n. angle means on the base plate for adjusting the angle at which thewings extend rearwardly and outwardly,

0. said wings mounted on one face of said base plate,

p. said base plate approximately aligned with said bolt q. so the baseplate may be reversed, thus causing each of said wings to be above orbelow said bolt and, thus, higher or lower in relationship to the soil,

. a chain loop mounted on the rear of said base plate,

and

s. a chain extending from said loop to said upright shank I. so that ifthe shank is raised, the wings will be raised therewith.

2. In a tillage device having a. an upright shank,

b. a soil loosening implement on the bottom of the shank,

c. draft means attached to the shank for drawing it along the soil to becultivated,

d. an attachment plate connected to the shank,

e. a base plate, and

f. a horizontal bolt hinging the base plate to the attachment plate;

g. the improved supplement comprising in combination: h. said attachmentis connected to said shank by elevating means for adjusting the heightof said bolt relative to the shank, j. a pair of wings 1'. each of whichis made of a bar of material, each bar of material being oriented so itextends upward vertically at least as great a distance as it is measuredhorizontally,

ii. said wings attached to the base plate to extend rearwardly andbackward from iii. a point immediately behind a soil looseningimplement,

k. so that the wings are free to float up and down about an axis definedby said bolt to fit the irregularities of the soil being cultivated,

m. said base plate is horizontally oriented,

n. angle means on the base plate for adjusting the angle at which thewings extend rearwardly and outwardly,

0. said wings mounted on one face of said base plate,

' p. said base plate approximately aligned with said bolt q. so the baseplate may be reversed, thus causing each of said wings to be above orbelow said bolt and, thus, higher or lower in relationship to the soil,

r. said angle means includes i. a slot in said base plate,

ii. said wings pivoted to said base forward of said slot,

iii. cam plates on said wings, and

iv. a bushing on v. a bolt through said slot,

vi. said bushing bearing against said cam plate.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 with additional limitations of s.a chain loop mounted on the rear of said base plate,

raised therewith.

1. In a tillage device having a. an upright shank b. a soil looseningimplement on the bottom of the shank, c. draft means attached to theshank for drawing it along the soil to be cultivated, d. an attachmentplate connected to the shank, e. a base plate, and f. a horizontal bolthinging the base plate to the attachment plate; g. the improvedsupplement comprising in combination: h. said attachment is connected tosaid shank by elevating means for adjusting the height of said boltrelative to the shank, j. a pair of wings i. each of which is made of abar of material, each bar of material being oriented so it extendsupward vertically at least as great a distance as it is measuredhorizontally, contd: ii. said wings attached to the base plate to extendrearwardly and backward from iii. a point immediately behind a soilloosening implement, k. so that the wings are free to float up and downabout an axis defined by said bolt to fit the irregularities of the soilbeing cultivated, m. said base plate is horizontally oriented, n. anglemeans on the base plate for adjusting the angle at which the wingsextend rearwardly and outwardly, o. said wings mounted on one face ofsaid base plate, p. said base plate approximately aligned with said boltq. so the base plate may be reversed, thus causing each of said wings tobe above or below said bolt and, thus, higher or lower in relationshipto the soil, r. a chain loop mounted on the rear of said base plate, ands. a chain extending from said loop to said upright shank t. so that ifthe shank is raised, the wings will be raised therewith.
 2. In a tillagedevice having a. an upright shank, b. a soil loosening implement on thebottom of the shank, c. draft means attached to the shank for drawing italong the soil to be cultivated, d. an attachment plate connected to theshank, e. a base plate, and f. a horizontal bolt hinging the base plateto the attachment plate; g. the improved supplement comprising incombination: h. said attachment is connEcted to said shank by elevatingmeans for adjusting the height of said bolt relative to the shank, j. apair of wings i. each of which is made of a bar of material, each bar ofmaterial being oriented so it extends upward vertically at least asgreat a distance as it is measured horizontally, ii. said wings attachedto the base plate to extend rearwardly and backward from iii. a pointimmediately behind a soil loosening implement, k. so that the wings arefree to float up and down about an axis defined by said bolt to fit theirregularities of the soil being cultivated, m. said base plate ishorizontally oriented, n. angle means on the base plate for adjustingthe angle at which the wings extend rearwardly and outwardly, o. saidwings mounted on one face of said base plate, p. said base plateapproximately aligned with said bolt q. so the base plate may bereversed, thus causing each of said wings to be above or below said boltand, thus, higher or lower in relationship to the soil, r. said anglemeans includes i. a slot in said base plate, ii. said wings pivoted tosaid base forward of said slot, iii. cam plates on said wings, and iv. abushing on v. a bolt through said slot, vi. said bushing bearing againstsaid cam plate.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 with additionallimitations of s. a chain loop mounted on the rear of said base plate,and t. a chain extending from said loop to said upright shank u. so thatif the shank is raised, the wings will be raised therewith.